Antibodies to Heat Shock Proteins in Schizophrenic Patients: Implications for the Mechanism of the Disease

OBJECTIVE: The involvement of heat shock proteins has been determined in the pathophysiology of several disorders of the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis. To elucidate their role in schizophrenia, the authors investigated antibody titers to heat shock proteins in unmedicated and medicated patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, the authors measured titers of antibodies to 60 kilodaltons (kD) heat shock proteins (HSP60) and 70 kD heat shock proteins (HSP70) in 30 patients with schizophrenia before and during neuroleptic treatment and compared the titers with those of 31 healthy individuals. RESULTS: Ten (33%) of 30 patients with schizophrenia but only one (3%) of 31 healthy individuals showed immunoreactivity to HSP60 or HSP70. The authors found especially high anti-HSP70 titers in never-medicated patients. High anti-HSP60 titers were mainly found in patients who were being treated with neuroleptics. CONCLUSIONS: Since heat shock proteins are involved in diverse neuroprotective mechanisms, antibodies against heat shock proteins may inhibit neuroprotection. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for schizophrenia.